Now I don't Understand

Things have changed.

Walking round a mall gathering the usual grocery for the pantry, I dropped by a kiosk that sold all clothes at RM10.00. I scoured through them and of course can find nothing to buy; either too minute or too large.
The vendor, a handsome young man told me that all his goods come by the containers from good old Japan. "Are they second-hand goods? " I asked. He vehemently denied saying it's because of the odd sizes that he was able to offer them at such a bargain.
The KPC in me went to the next question, " What's a good looking guy like you here doing here? Are you the boss?"
It's family business. He recounted that he went to the University of Melbourne to do a degree in Hotel management but he gets no kick in receiving the miserly pay... RM1800.00 . He cannot be sustained; not with a car, girlfriend and now with a kid. So, the RM10.00 kiosk was an answer then and of course today he tells me that he has 10 such kiosks running in the Klang Valley and "I see money coming in ; it's exciting." Can't he just employ someone? I see no excitement in it. A thought went through me, perhaps per pc of the goods costs only a ringgit? That's where the money come in?

Maybe I have been too long in the civil service; money is hard-earned and I love the 'novelty' attached to it. Isn't it what it's supposed to be? You graduate from a tertiary institution and get attached to a profession or job that has something to do with what you learn?

But no; not anymore. I am beginning to see more and more of the Y generation storming the world in all kinds of endeavours; just the other day dad told me that a banker told him that the bank was astounded to see a husband and wife team creating web sites from the home and being qualified for a 12million dollar property in Singapore. How come money comes so easy for some these days? Right skills?

I must change my mindset though I find it very hard. I still belong to the old school of thought whereby people trained in their areas of specialisation further develop themselves in those areas and offer expertise appropriately. Again, I know I will be condemned and laughed at for being so naive. I must adjust quickly or I will be left behind... trend setters; they call themselves.

Trying very hard to understand the present trend; but whatever it is you still instill learning skills in school ; read, write and count. After acquiring those skills, whatever comes along ?

Maybe, just maybe whatever it may be, just have the right values in life; those will see you through ? Now, I really don't understand.